No Taureau Rouge?

France says "eh" to Red Bull, allowed for now only in a neutered, taurineless form, on both nationalist and health grounds. And maybe not for long…

France is extremely wary of letting in big name, globally available products. Apparently they don't like Coca Cola, and now the Ministry of Health is giving Red Bull a hard time.

Read all about it here.

Comments

[Reinmoose]

It's because they care about their culture - which Red Bull is clearly trying to take away from them.

[TallDave]

Most of Europe is pretty protectionist. It's a major reason why their economies are so stagnant.

[Randolph Carter]

Well, where there is Red Bull, there will some day be a proliferation of Jaeger bombs and stripey shirts. Obviously the French are right on this issue.

[SugarFree]

The French can't have Red Bull?

How else are they going to enjoy a beverage with that great crushed-Excedrin taste?

[Marcvs]

How else are they going to enjoy a beverage with that great crushed-Excedrin taste?

I've always thought it was more of a "liquified SweeTarts" flavor (flavour?)

[Taureau Merde]

They're afraid that if they let in all these large, homogenizing, globally available products that the French will lose their unique and distinctive culture and become just like everyone else -- polite and friendly.

[Episiarch]

But can they have Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt?

(Note the picture of him in the lower left...I love it)

[Jozef]

The French are not allowed to have any energy drinks. Some of them may be getting the wrong ideas after drinking them, such as wanting to work overtime.

[robc]

Some of them may be getting the wrong ideas after drinking them, such as wanting to work overtime.

FTFY.

[MP]

Most of Europe is pretty protectionist. It's a major reason why their economies are so stagnant.

Which makes the fact that Red Bull is an Austrian product (a fact I didn't know until this thread) even more delicious. I love European on European protectionism.

[Ironic]

"on both nationalist and health grounds."

In other words on nationalist grounds with health as an excuse.

[YMNGH]

From the Slashfood article:
"Are French officials right to try and get rid of the energy drink? That's a tough question."

No, this is not a tough question. Prohibition is wrong. People have a right to drink the beverage of their own choice even if it is something I would not.

[lunchstealer]

They're afraid that if they let in all these large, homogenizing, globally available products that the French will lose their unique and distinctive culture and become just like everyone else -- polite and friendly.

Dunno, if France is anything like London or Dallas, the primary consumers of Red-Bull-and-vodka will be douchebags. The French may just be trying to keep their douchebags controlably lethargic.

[Brandybuck]

Radical protectionism is the reason France is such an economic powerhouse. We should follow suit. Not only do we need to build that electric fence next to Mexico, we need one by Canada too, and fast attack subs patrolling our coasts. For the sake of our children, we cannot allow any goods to reach our shores!

[Art-P.O.G.]

hey, lunchstealer! That's one of my favorite drinks! (I am, of course, open to the idea that I may be a douchebag)

[Episiarch]

The French may just be trying to keep their douchebags controlably (sic) lethargic.

I thought that's what wine was for.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

How else are they going to enjoy a beverage with that great crushed-Excedrin taste?

I've always thought it was more of a "liquified SweeTarts" flavor (flavour?)
Humming bird nectar-esque?

[shecky]

I'll concur with the "liquified SweeTarts" flavor.

[SugarFree]

I've only ever had the Sugar Free Red Bull. It's pretty goddamn vile. In fact, great tasting energy drinks may be mostly impossible. Coca-Cola's Full Throttle's not too bad (it tastes like a Mountain Dew heavy suicide) but it's fairly deficient in the kick department.

(insomniac who hates coffee in all forms)

[lunchstealer]

The French may just be trying to keep their douchebags controlably (sic)* lethargic.

I thought that's what wine was for.

It is. They don't want the douchebags to switch from wine to energy-drinks. Can you imagine the damage that would be wrought by droves of amped-up French douchebags roaming the countryside? They'd all go soccer-hooligan, and make British tourists seem like German tourists, or at least like Finnish tourists.

[brotherben]

Red Bull and Tequila

for those of us who hate to tire while performing incredibly stupid human tricks

[Art-P.O.G.]

I don't mind the taste of energy drinks.

I'll take a Monster, an Amp'd, a Redbull or even a Rockstar or Rip-It*.

*the orange Rip-Its make me throw up.

[Nephilium]

SugarFree:

Try the following for tasty energy drinks Bawlz and Sobe Adrenaline Rush...

At least I think both of these are tasty...

Nephilium

[SugarFree]

I forgot about Bawls, that's actually pretty good. Sobe doesn't have a sugar free version I've ever found.

It's not just a nickname, it's a lifestyle!

(Just kidding, my pancreas is broke.)

[J sub D]

Somebody gave me a Red Bull once. I still feel I got screwed in the deal.

[Marcvs]

Sobe Adrenaline Rush

Are they putting hormones in these drinks now?

[SugarFree]

Marcvs,

I think you are supposed to be really excited that you get to drink their product.

[Episiarch]

Sugar-Free RockStar (the white can) is not bad.

(insomniac who hates coffee in all forms)

So are you looking for a source of caffeine that isn't coffee because you are tired from not sleeping, or do you hate coffee because it makes your insomnia even worse?

Booze works pretty well for insomnia.

[SugarFree]

Sobe does make a sugar free, I've just never seen it apparently. (The regular has 66 grams of sugar; a little over a quarter cup.)

SoBe Adrenaline Rush Sugar Free

Ingredients:
Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Taurine, Natural Flavor, D-Ribose, Sodium Citrate, Sucralose, L-Carnitine, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Gum Arabic, Monopotassium Phosphate, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Acesulfame Potassium, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Diphosphate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) Seed Extract, Caramel Color, Beta-Carotene (Color), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 8 fl oz; Servings per container: 2; Calories: 20; Sodium: 240mg; Potassium: 50mg; Total carbs: 2g; Sugars: 0g; Vitamin C: 100%; Vitamin B6: 240%; Folic acid: 30%; Vitamin B12: 100%; Taurine: 960mg; D-ribose: 480mg; L-carnitine: 240mg; Inositol: 96mg; Siberian ginseng: 24mg; Guarana: 48mg

[Marcvs]

I think you are supposed to be really excited that you get to drink their product.

Then they should rename another drink to "Jameson 18 Year Adrenaline Rush Irish Whiskey."

[Naga Sadow]

As a bartender, my comments are VITAL to this discussion. Yes, douchebags overwhelmingly seem to prefer red bull products. Yes, there are health risks associated. We in the biz, call energy drinks "crack juice" for a reason. People have an unhealthy habit of giving themselves heart murmurs from drinking 3 a day for a few weeks or months. Finally, you guys gotta try 180. F#$%ing awesome!!!

[Nephilium]

Marcvs:

So help me gods... if you were to put Jameson 18 year old into a glass of Adrenaline Rush... I'd have to hunt you down, and rescue all of the whiskey in your house so you can't hurt it any more...

Nephilium

[SugarFree]

Sugar Free Rock Star is actually my favorite (and the source of my nickname via brother-in-law.)

Caffeine delivery device. I never have problems going to sleep, just being functional when I get up early.

Actually, marijuana is the best cure for insomnia. Slept like a baby all through college. Booze is bad for me. The minute I sober up, I wake up.

[No Name Guy]

Wouldn't this be against EU free trade rules?

[Old Bull Lee]

If they're so worried about taurine, are they going to do something about cat food?

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Only wussified Frogs would even drink Red Bull, I am surprised it's banned there.

Real Man energy drinks are (in order):

Sumatran Coffee

Shot of Espresso

For bikers:

Shot of Meth

[Naga Sadow]

TWC,

What about those among the masses(such as myself) who have evolved to the point that we have TASTE BUDS and can not stand coffec in any of its forms?

[Naga Sadow]

Coffec=coffee, my bad.

[Nephilium]

TWC:

What about a nice Peaberry coffee... and Sumatran really has to be roasted right for it to truly be spectacular...

And well... espresso has less caffeine then drip or press coffee...

And Naga Shadow. I think you got it backwards... those of us with taste truly appreciate coffee... 🙂

Nephilium

[Naga Sadow]

LOL, Nephilium. But I stand by my original comment.

[YMNGH]

Naga Shadow,

Many people who do not like coffee have never had QUALITY coffee and have only had poor quality bean juice squezed into in tin can win a lead stripe down one side and a cheap plastic lid. Is this you?

[Marcvs]

Nephilium,

In Re your 2:39pm post, I was referring to the fact that I was "really excited to drink" their booze, not the heresy of attempting to mix Jameson 18 Year with anything.

[Naga Sadow]

YMNGH,

I know all about QUALITY! I bathe in BlingH2O and water my lawn with Dom Perignon! Honestly, I can't recall. Its been roughly 15 years since I tried coffee.

[R C Dean]

YMNGH nailed it. Bad coffee is horrid. Good coffee is something else entirely.

I'm getting a home roaster soon, to further enhance my coffee appreciation.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

.....can not stand coffee in any of its forms....

Good Heavens Man! You are obviously not Italian, were you raised by wolves?

Seriously, sometimes it means you haven't tasted good coffee or sometimes it means you gotta get out the cream and sugar. It is perfectly acceptable for a Real Man to sissify his coffee with cream and sugar (or Splenda). However, it is NOT acceptable for a Real Man (or an Urkobold Man) to order any of those silly little coffee drinks that made Starbucks stockholders wealthy.

MMMM, a nice peaberry, Neph. Yes. Actually, any well roasted dark coffee will do.

I will spare you my speech about how the world owes a debt of gratitude to Gen X for reviving decent coffee.

One coffee that seems to consistently disappoint me is Kona. Even Kona peaberry. What am I doing wrong? I desperately want to love this coffee.

[Randolph Carter]

Mixing streams, the Monster and Rockstar coffee energy drinks are pretty damn tasty, while the Starbucks one has a truly EXTREME aftertaste that is nasty to the EXTREME.

Also, the Russian Bear and Irish Monster drinks that are basically white russian and Irish coffee sans booze are very tasty indeed.

[Naga Sadow]

No, not Italian. Mainly Scots-Irish.

[YMNGH]

"I bathe in BlingH2O and water my lawn with Dom Perignon!"

LOL. Actually you don't have to spend Dom Perigon prices to get coffee that is better than Maxwell House. But if you really DO WANT to spend that much you can
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/2006/07/19/priciest-coffee-beans_cx_hl_0720featA_ls.html

Just about any product you can think of has some varient that is really expensive. Myself, I like, Barnies.

[Nephilium]

Marcvs:

Very well... I'm just giving you a warning of what will happen when the whiskey abuse hotline goes off... 🙂

TWC:

What roast are you doing on the Kona? I haven't played with that for a while... so I'd need to dig up notes on what works best for it...

As for my personal underrated really good coffee... Celebes Kalossi with a nice medium roast on it...

Nephilium

[Brandybuck]

I've had good coffee. But never at Starbucks.

[Episiarch]

Coffee is delicious. It also makes one jittery, which tea and most energy drinks do not. As much I love the taste of good coffee, I hate being jittery with a passion. Therefore, no coffee.

[Naga Sadow]

YMNGH,

Sorry, but no. I try most types of food and drink at least a few times before rendering a verdict. As for the Dom P., totally agree. The price and taste are not worth it. Vueve Cliquot is better and cheaper.

[YMNGH]

"I've had good coffee. But never at Starbucks."

I used to not like Starbucks. After going a couple of times I discovered that it is just their dark roasts I do like some of their other blends. It isn't that I don't like dark roasts in general, just not from Starbucks for some reason.

[YMNGH]

Naga, I have never had Vueve Cliquot. I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for the tip.

[Naga Sadow]

Trust the bartender, YMNGH. Speaking of which, I gotta get ready for work, later.

[TallDave]

I get my coffee from freedom fighters:

http://www.contracafe.com/

I like to think of it as dancing a merry jig on the grave of Communism.

[TallDave]

Coffee is delicious. It also makes one jittery, which tea and most energy drinks do not. As much I love the taste of good coffee, I hate being jittery with a passion. Therefore, no coffee.

Yeah, for me coffee is just a weekend reward for doing my on-the-side consulting work. The rest of the time it's a green tea blend with a bit of chai.

[YMNGH]

"I like to think of it as dancing a merry jig on the grave of Communism."

Speaking of Communism is this ironic news. The organ of the Communist Party of China apparently prefers McCain to Obama.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080616071018.gi7x8kd9&show_article=1

[JW]

However, it is NOT acceptable for a Real Man (or an Urkobold Man) to order any of those silly little coffee drinks that made Starbucks stockholders wealthy.

Ahem. I bought one of their very nice mochashakes yesterday (temp around 85) and then just hung out watching the girls go by. Not a bad way to kill a half-hour.

After going a couple of times I discovered that it is just their dark roasts I do like some of their other blends. It isn't that I don't like dark roasts in general, just not from Starbucks for some reason.

Their Verona blend is not half-bad. However, I've since moved on from SB since I discovered Mayorga coffee at Costco.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

I've subbed out quality for quantity. I only drink two cups a day, but man that first cup is the only frikkin' reason I roll out of bed. I do love my coffee.

Starbucks can often brew a good cup of coffee. I like the Fr Roast and I had one a few weeks ago that was stunning. Some new one I hadn't had before. I walked in and said what have you got that'll crawl down my throat? She told me, but I forgot. CRS.

Neph, I have never had a Kona coffee that was better than just okay.

Tall One, you funny guy. But hey, didn't you hear? There weren't any Nicaraguan freedom fighters.

[Butts Wagner]

The only energy drinks I drink are named after rappers or their songs: Crunk Juice, Pimp Juice, and R. Kelly's Taste of Cristal.

[R C Dean]

It is perfectly acceptable for a Real Man to sissify his coffee with cream and sugar (or Splenda).

I've become a cream man. Used to be black, but now I need me some cream.

However, it is NOT acceptable for a Real Man (or an Urkobold Man) to order any of those silly little coffee drinks that made Starbucks stockholders wealthy.

Starbucks makes awesome milkshakes. Its not coffee, though.

However, I've since moved on from SB since I discovered Mayorga coffee at Costco.

You are aware that Mayorga is mostly a cigar maker (and a very fine one, at that)? I don't think I've hade their coffee.

Vueve Cliquot is better and cheaper.

True dat.

One coffee that seems to consistently disappoint me is Kona.

Many coffees sold as Kona or Jamaican Blue Mountain are actually cut with something else, might be part of the problem.

I've usually seen lighter roasts recommended for African and Hawaiian coffees (City Roast is the technical term). Your Pacific coffees are generally supposed to benefit from a darker roast.

Espresso roast is also a dandy way to hide the fact that your beans are cheap shit. Which (I'm told) is why Starbucks pushes darker roasts.

[No Name Guy]

Its no surprise the Chicoms prefer McCain.

As long as we are bogged down in the Middle East, China can keep expanding their army and navy while we're distracted.

[JW]

You are aware that Mayorga is mostly a cigar maker (and a very fine one, at that)? I don't think I've hade their coffee.

Yep. Not sure if I ever had one of those. I miss me cigars.

They're actually a local roaster in Maryland. I'm not sure how far they distribute, but they make a decent roast. A friend of mine manages one of the stores and she calls Starbucks, Charbucks.

[Brian Courts]

Well, where there is Red Bull, there will some day be a proliferation of Jaeger bombs

Yep, Randolph Carter has it right. As much as I hate government telling you what to eat or drink, if this law prevents just one person from ordering that atrocious concoction it will be worth it. If only we could get it banned here as well. 😉 Of course the real benefit of the law is not to protect the drinker from himself (though certainly a good friend would -- a friend does not let a friend order a J?ger-bomb) but to protect the rest of us who gag and throw up a little bit every time we hear one ordered.

[James Ard]

One SF rockstar or SF blue rip-it or SF Amp a day. Also four cups of coffee is required to stave off liver disease, since I haven't learned yet that energy drinks have the same 80% reduction numbers.

[edna]

the virtue of dom is that it is ageable- veuve cliquot is not. i had a '64 dom a few weeks ago that was life-changing. it had lost 80% of its bubble, but what was left was just perfect, great balance and refinement.

i have no idea if they've screwed with success since then, but a '90 dom whilst camping last weekend did not suck in the least.

bargain bubbly of the year: gruet from new mexico. nothing special, but not bad, and surprisingly cheap.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Also four cups of coffee is required to stave off liver disease....

I dunno, my two cups are pretty butt kicking strong, maybe that counts as four?

And, does the four cups offset the bottle of wine in terms of the, ah, liver disease?

[PDruillet]

Curious, I was accused a few days ago of being obsessed with you Americans, but now the foot is in the other shoe and I point my finger in your general direction. Who is obsessed with whom, now?

I would add to these remarks many more words that would infuriate your sensibilities to no end, but for some reason, I am out of energy.

It's also terribly late, good night.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Who is obsessed with whom, now?

Everyone knows France and America are sadomasochistic lovers.

[Franklin Harris]

Red Bull is vile, but I'll defend to the death your right to drink it.

OK, not to the death.

[Franklin Harris]

Everyone knows France and America are sadomasochistic lovers.

But who is the dom and who is the sub?

[Franklin Harris]

Of course the real benefit of the law is not to protect the drinker from himself (though certainly a good friend would -- a friend does not let a friend order a J?ger-bomb) but to protect the rest of us who gag and throw up a little bit every time we hear one ordered.

OK, as a matter of courtesy, you are advised to steer clear of my weekend benders.

[Art-P.O.G.]

But who is the dom and who is the sub?

They switch off. But usually France is the sub.

[R C Dean]

the virtue of dom is that it is ageable- veuve cliquot is not.

Makes no diff to me. The average life expectancy of a bottle of champagne in my house is about two weeks.

[Naga Sadow]

Edna,

Mostly I would agree except I work in a casino in Biloxi. From what I have seen, we serve mainly 99 thru 02 vintages. I've never even seen a vintage before 97.

[Stevo Darkly]

France is extremely wary of letting in big name, globally available products.

If I was still the ignorant, France-bashing jerk I used to be, I would have posted:

... like "soap" and "deodorant."

But I've grown. I like to think I'm bigger than that now.

[Bob Smith]

In fact, great tasting energy drinks may be mostly impossible.

How about Jolt? "Jolt: All the sugar and twice the caffeine" It's the perfect geek food.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Stevo! Man, that is why they pay you the big bucks. WTF have you been?

[Douglas Fletcher]

Some kind of weird Maginot Line. Probably just as effective in the end.

[James Ard]

TWC, I'd think the darker the better. Here's the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5071874.stm sorry I still haven't learned how to make it a link.

[edna]

naga, i'd agree, that young, it isn't worth it except as a show-off guzzle for rappers.

[R C Dean]

Pretty much the last words, in my book, for obsessive coffee goodness, are the following:

Sweet Maria's
Coffee Terroir

Sweet Maria's has a very interesting discussion Hawaiian Kona, BTW.

[brotherben]

Edna, Your idea of camping is vastly different for what we do here in south Alabama. My hat's off to you.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

James, thanks for the link. It is intuitive to me that coffee ought to be dark. And that may be the problem. I've never seen any Kona coffee that is dark. I know they had that scandal where the 100% was routinely watered down (now there's a class action I can get behind). I keep thinking that somewhere is the cup of Kona that justifies the hype.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Thanks RC, I appreciate the link.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

links

[The Wine Commonsewer]

sorry I still haven't learned how to make it a link.

No worries. It's a simple cut and paste into the browser.

BTW, I can't remember how to do it either. I cheat. I zip to my blog, do it there with the cheater buttons, copy it, zip back and paste it in.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Well James, I'm upping my coffee intake from two to four cups daily. 🙂

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Thanks RC, apparently part of my problem with Kona (per Maria) is that I like the rich dark styles like Sumatra and Ethiopian and Kona just isn't like that. Good Kona is mellow and light and smooth. Haven't found that much and poor Kona is abundant.

[alan]

I like my coffee like I like my women.

Cold, dark and bitter.

Any word on HRC's current availability? She has been quite the last two weeks.